Top 9 BEST Things to do in Chalong

If you're planning to visit Thailand, make sure to not miss Chalong! Here are the top things to do in Chalong you should not miss.

Thailand is an Asian country with miles of coastline and delicious food. The tropical weather and interesting locales make this one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In this post, we’ll cover some of the best things to do in Chalong!

Chalong is a tambon or sub-district in the province of Phuket in Thailand. Phuket is the second largest province in Thailand and very well-known to tourists. Here, in Phuket, lies the Chalong Bay. Chalong is a known boat lagoon and is quite famous for yachting because of its muddy shoreline.

A bay in the central east area of Phuket coast, it is a mix of a shopping hub, residential area, and a port. There are few things to do here if you are in Phuket and want to stop by in Chalong for a few days.

Chalong means “celebration” in the local language, and that is what this place offers. Chalong is the entrance to the southern coast of Phuket and attracts a good number of tourists. The warm weather makes it possible for you to enjoy the outdoors and all things ethnically Thai.

Top 9 BEST Things to do in Chalong

Take a Tour of The Chalong Bay Rum Distillery

The Chalong Rum is a locally made liquor that is quite popular with the locals. The award-winning rum is world-renowned and uses the French distillation technique, which is centuries old.

As Thailand has a good sugarcane crop, it is used to make this rum in the Chalong Rum Distillery, inside old-style copper stills that were imported from France. Fresh sugarcane juice from the first press is fermented, distilled, and matured to create a smooth beverage.

The distillery is open for tours, and one can see the process by which this beverage gets created. There is a cocktail workshop that instructs on the creation of cocktails using Chalong rum, and you can even take the recipes with you.

While on tour, you also get a glass of mojito or a free cocktail to enjoy on the boozy tour, which is always a plus. The distillery has a boutique and bar where visitors can purchase alcoholic beverages and cocktails along with some tapas.

Although the distillery is open from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 8 am to 7.30 pm, the tour timings are between 2 to 6 pm. The tour package comes at the cost of 450 Thai Bahts and has a 30-minute guided tour, tasting sessions, and a free mojito or cocktail.

And the cocktail workshop is priced at 1700 Thai Bahts and begins at 4 pm every day. It is a 2-hour session involving three types of cocktail making and tasting, a guided tour of the distillery, tastings, and one plate of tapas. The distillery is roughly 5 miles away from Phuket, and you would need a private taxi or car to get here.

Learn Muay Thai kickboxing

The ancient art of Muay Thai has been developed over the centuries. Also known as Thai Boxing, this is the national sport of Thailand, which uses the entire body as the weapon to train.

It is also referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs,” as the eight points in the human body are used to mimic war weapons. For example, the hands become dagger, and the sword, forearms, and shins act as an armor, and the elbow acts as a mace to push down opponents. Modern Muay

Thai resembles boxing a lot as the combat sport uses many circling techniques. It is also used in MMA tournaments. There are plenty of Muay Thai academies in Chalong that will teach you the basics.

There Rae specialized camps where trainees can stay at the place and train in the art. If you want to get into shape and learn some self-defense techniques, you must try one of the centers in Chalong.

Enjoy and have a good time watching the dolphin show at Dolphin bay Phuket

The Dolphin Bay in Phuket is a zoo in Chalong where the animals are born inside the zoo. They are familiar with the environment and caretakers who raise them with care.

The dolphinarium is designed to keep the dolphins comfortable and stress-free, based on international standards. The water pools where they live are monitored for salinity and temperature to ensure a healthy living environment.

There are different zones in the seating area for visitors starting from VVIP, which the front seats to regular seats at the back.

The VVIP tickets are 1200 Thai Bahts, VIP tickets are 1000 Bahts, Deluxe seats are 900 Bahts, and Regular seats are 700 Bahts. The front row seats allow for more anima interaction. Guests can take pictures or swim with the dolphins for an additional charge.

There are three shows daily – 11 am, 2 pm and 5 pm, except Mondays when it is closed. This is a family-friendly place, and children will love the live shows as they watch dolphins interact with humans.

Trying out Muay Thai is indeed one of the experiences and best things to do in Chalong.

Shop at Chalong Night market

Thailand is known for its spectacular night markets. These are abuzz with activity when the sun has set and many heads to the bed. You will find hawkers selling their wares and people milling about buying things at a good bargain.

You can find delicious local snacks, food, and beverages as you stroll through the market at night, absorbing the local culture. If you are looking for street shopping and want to pick up local souvenirs and handmade trinkets, then do go and check the place out.

The stores and stalls on the street offer bags, clothing, shoes, accessories, and eatables. The best time to visit is the weekend as there are more sellers setting up shop to trade.

If you aren’t sure where to head for this, then ask your hotel as some of them have shuttles that ferry people to and fro from these night markets. If not, there are cabs as well that can take you back.

Stroll at the Parlai Pier promenade

Parlai is an area in Chalong, mostly residential. But it is known for its seafood restaurants. Stroll on the pier or walk on the promenade, and if you walk till the end, you can see the Borrae fishing pier.

It is an excellent place to catch the sunrise in the morning and see the vivid colors reflecting on the water. Parlai Seafood is a very popular restaurant here.

You can choose a live fish, and the chef will cook it for the way you want. The servings are plentiful, and you will get a good meal for the price you pay.

Hire a long-tail boat at Chalong Pier

The Chalong pier has a lot of long-tail boats if you want to hire one. Take one out into the water to visit surrounding beaches and islands or just float on the water watching a sunset.

Usually, the fisherman has these boats, but some may find it more profitable to rent the vessel out to tourists who want to visit islands that can be only accessed by boats. If you want to go snorkeling, even then, you can hire a boat and head off to a reef to explore marine life.

Go for a massage or spa treatment

Relax on your holiday with a spa treatment at one of the massage or spa centers. Get a Thai massage or one of the other full-body massages and scrubs on the menu.

Get the full service at the spa with sweet tea, cold towels, and relaxing ambiance. Unwind and get your knots loosened with the right pressure. Foot reflexology, head, neck, and shoulder, try all of them and enjoy the Thai hospitality.

You could get couples massage as well or go in for single massages. The masseurs are well trained and professional as they use their bodies to stretch the muscles by walking on your back or stretching limbs into yoga positions.

Visit Wat Chalong

One of the top things to do in Chalong is to visit the Wat Chalong or the Wat Chaiyathararam is a Buddhist temple dedicated to venerable monks – Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Chaem.

They led people against the Chinese rebellion and helped the injured with their knowledge of herbal medicine. It was built in the 19th century. There is a 60-meter-tall stupa that is said to hold a bone fragment of Lord Buddha. The ceiling and walls of the temple are decorated with paintings that depict Lord Buddha’s life.

The building has three floors, and you can climb all the way up to the top for great views. You will see the locals offering lotus flowers and adding gold paper on statues. You must remember to dress respectfully and remove shows before going in.

Enjoy the views at the Big Buddha in Phuket

The Big Buddha of Phuket is located near Chalong on top of the Nakkerd Hills. It is the 3rd largest statue in Thailand, and it depicts Buddha in a sitting posture. The statue is huge – 45 meters tall and is made of Burmese marble and concrete.

It sits facing the Ao Chalong Bay and can be seen from far places as well. The hill on which the statue is located offers a 360-degree view of the island, and you can see Chalong Bay, Kata, and Phuket.

Some steps lead to the white statue, and the ambiance is very calm. It is a religious site, and you must dress conservatively. It is open from 6 am to 7 pm daily for visitors.

Go for seafood with a sea view on Chalong Bay

If you are in Thailand, you must try fresh seafood, and as Chalong bay has access to the sea, there are plenty of fresh seafood options. Try one of the many restaurants that face the ocean for good views. Fish, lobsters, crabs, squid or prawns choose whatever you like and then pick the sauce and style of cooking.

If you can, then try to get to a floating restaurant as well, so you can eat over the water. Tempura shrimp and oysters can be accompanied by beer or wine as you watch the sunset over the ocean.

Chalong is a good place to relax and is quite family-friendly. There aren’t any adventure-filled activities, but it is more like a calm vibe on holiday.

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